Taping machine



Oct. 1, 1968 L. TAYLOR, JR 3,404,060

TAPING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I54 I50 Laurence L. Taylor, Jr.

' INVENTOR.

0 7. BY M Q Oct. 1, 1968 L. L. TAYLOR, JR

TAPING MACHINE 4 Sheets$heet 2 iled Feb. .2, 196

INVENTOR.

mdb'awy 3 Laurente L. Taylor, Jr.

Oct. 1, 1968 TAYLOR, JR 3,404,060

TAPING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q 0 S E k 5. i Q) 5- Q 0 "N9 m Q s, o N v Q k k *1- K .5 Q g k Laurence L. 721y/or, Jr.

INVENTOR.

a BY WX MW Oct. 1, 1968 TAYLQR, JR 3,404,060

. TAPING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig. 9 E4 as I Laurence L. Taylor, Jr.

' 1N VENTOR.

United States Patent 3,404,060 TAPIN G MACHINE Laurence L. Taylor, In, Medford, ()reg. (214 E. 12th St., The Dalles, Orcg. 97058) Filed Feb. 2, 1965, Ser. No. 429,754 18 Claims. (Cl. 156-526) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An elongated reservoir for flowable material having a pair of parallel arms pivotally mounted thereon and projecting longitudinally beyond one end thereof. The inner and outer portions of said arms mount rollers with the inner roller selectively sealing an aperture in the front of the reservoir and with the outer roller normally being a roll of tape. The tape passes from the outer roller about the inner roller at which point the flowable material is picked up on the tape with the tape returning to the outer roller and being pressured thereby into mounting engagement against a surface. The device includes both tape severing and tape guiding means as well as means for selectively pressurizing the fluid within the reservoir.

This invention relates to the wallboard industry and more particularly to a machine for taping the seams of wallboard, which machine is adapted to supply the tape to be cemented to the joints of the wallboard, supply the cement, sever the tape, and apply the tape to the wallboard.

Mechanical taping tools, which are qualified for production work in wallboard taping, are known in the art. However, the taping machines which are known are rather expensive in manufacture and for the most part must be rented by the person using the machine. The rent on these machines is substantial, and a shop doing wallboard work can as a rule afford one of these rented tools only if they can keep the machine in operation over a substantial period of time.

Small and medium size paint contractors find that wallboard preparation is a relatively small part of their business. However, such wallboard preparation is a very important part of the painting business and in many instances contracts are not given out unless the painter is willing to contract for the wallboard work. The larger painting contractors are able to keep rented taping machines in operation since they have numerous jobs on which the taping tools may be used. As a result of this, larger painting contractors are able to under-bid the smaller competitors, and in some instances may even cut the cost of drywall preparation in half. The smaller painting contractors find it uneconomical to maintain one of these rented tools for occasional wallboard jobs, since the rent they would have to pay would more than deplete any profit that may be gained from having one since the rent must be paid during periods when the machine is idle, and as a rule the period over which such a machine is used by a small painting contractor is relatively small. Furthermore, maintenance of these rented machines is a major item. In many instances two machines must be kept on hand in order to keep one working since the machines are subject to break-down. Although the maintenance cost is assumed by the company that rents the machines this presents many problems when the contractor is operating away from the major cities where the tool service centers are located.

The wallboard taping machines that are known today also have a problem in the cleaning thereof. These machines are so enclosed that a thorough clean-up is practically impossible, and very time consuming.

In many wallboard taping machines known today the "ice machine must be filled by means of a pump. In the process of filling this machine occasionally the pump will discharge a void, or air pocket into the reservoir of the tool, and as a result dry tape will ensue during the taping operation. This will impair the quality of the surface preparation.

Another disadvantage of present-day taping machines is the lack of manual control of the quantity of adhesive administered to the tape during its taping operation. All surfaces do not require the same amount of adhesive. As for example a raised or flat surface does not require the same amount of adhesive as a recessed surface would.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is to provide a taping machine for wallboard which is simple in design, and construction and is inexpensive and feasible to manufacture so that it will be relatively inexpensive to all painting contractors. Also, this machine will use parts which can be supplied or duplicated by any hardware store should this :be necessary when the machine is being operated in a non-urban area. The taping machine of this invention is durable and rigid in construction, capable of withstanding rough treatment and not subject to frequent break-downs.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a taping machine wherein a complete and thorough cleanup can be accomplished in a'matter of minutes, in such a manner that the machine may be stored away for future use.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a taping machine which can be filled with taping cement without the use of extraneous equipment, and which may be filled from the top thereof thereby making it improbable that air voids will be left in the reservoir containing the taping cement.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a taping means wherein the operator of the machine will at all times have control of the adhesive dispersement. In constructing this taping machine compression is designed to be applied against the taping adhesive or cement retained within the reservoir of the machine to force the taping cement toward the front of the reservoir, wherein an orifice is provided to allow the taping cement to emit from the reservoir. Compression means are provided on the reservoir for maintaining a light pressure on the taping cement, however, the controlling pressure of the machine will be exerted by the operator of the machine during the operation.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a taping machine for laying the tape material, which machine has an integral creasing tool with a floating action that allows the creasing tool to operate although the machines parallel angle with the surface to be taped may fluctuate, and which machine has a floating guide tool that maintains the position of the tape being laid in full relationship to the pressing force on the machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a taping machine wherein the tape cutting knife used to sever the tape automatically retracts into a self-locking position when the machine is lifted from the tape surface.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a taping machine wherein the application of an adhesive to any strip type of rollable material is manually controlled; and wherein such materials may be'laid on all vertical or horizontal surfaces for the purpose of covering and binding cracks, crevices, abrasions or for marking or decorative purposes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a reservoir having a compressor assembly spring tensioned to force the rearward end of the compressor assembly down into the reservoir ahead of the forward end to thereby force the cementing material into the front of the reservoir. The compressor assembly being controlled by the operator who may exert sufiicient pressure on the compressor assembly to allow the proper amount of adhesive to be emitted from the front orifice. The pitch of the compressor assembly is designed to decrease as the assembly descends into the adhesive reservoir, and when the compressor assembly has reached the bottom floor of the reservoir the lid and floor will lay parallel.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a taping machine having a trigger assembly for releasing a knife which is adapted to sever taping material supplied thereunder.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a taping machine which has a tape pressing action, in that, the tape roll mounted on the machine presses the tape being cemented to a joint.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a taping machine that will seal the opening through which the taping cement emits during the operation of the machine when the machine is lying idle, thereby eliminating spillage and seepage problems, and which machine will lock the tape in place when the machine is not in use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tape cutting machine, wherein the knife of the machine cannot be operated when the machine is in an inoperative condition.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the taping machine of this invention, showing the machine applying a strip of tape to a vertical wall;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the taping machine and showing the lid compressor being partly broken away to show the fulcrum, turnbuckle, and tension spring for the lid compressor assembly;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom view of the invention, with part of the reservoir being broken away;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of th invention and showing parts of the reservoir in crosssection to show the lid compressor assembly mounted therein;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged side elevational view of the cutting assembly, and cement applying assembly of this invention, with certain parts being shown in cross-section;

FIGURE 6 is a partly broken away enlarged side elevational view showing the knife assembly, and cement applying assembly, with the arms being positioned in an operative position, and showing the knife assembly in severing relationship with the tape;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional end view of the knife assembly of the invention taken substantially along section line 77 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view of the knife assembly looking towards the front of the taping machine, the section being taken substantially along section line 8-8 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view of the tape idler and orifice assembly taken substantially along section line 9-9 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view of the knife assembly, and knife tensioning means taken substantially along section line 10-10 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of the knife bracket of this invention;

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of the bracket securing the lever arms to the knife tensioning means;

FIGURE 13 is a plan view of the taping tool of this invention with parts of the reservoir being broken away, and showing the creasing tool used to crease tape into corners;

FIGURE 14 is a side elevational sectional view of the taping assembly of this invention, with the creasing tool attached thereto taken substantially along section line 1414 of FIGURE 13; and

FIGURE 15 is a side elevational view of the taping machine of this invention adapted for use as a striping machine with parts of the reservoir being broken away, and showing a roller being attached to the arms thereof, and a belt disposed over the roller with the belt being threaded over the tape idler for application of paint or the like to the belt for painting a surface.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings the taping machine 10 comprises a reservoir 12, utility arms 14, and a lid compressor assembly 16. The reservoir has parallel side walls 18, a front wall 20, rear wall 22 and a bottom wall 24. A dovetailed groove 26 is provided in the rear wall 22 of the reservoir, and an end bracket 28 of complementary shape carries the lid compressor and is removably mounted in groove 26. An elongated arm 30 comprising a compression and support lever is pivotally secured to the top of the bracket 28 by a pivot pin 32. The elongated arm 30 has a recess 34 in the rear thereof to allow easy pivotal movement of the compressor assembly 16 about the pivot point 32 on the bracket 28. A right angle bracket 36 is secured to the front of the arm 30', and projects normal thereto, and is secured to a lid compressor 38 by a pivotal pin 40 at the bottom thereof. A fulcrum 42 is pivotally connected to the bracket 28 by a pivot pin 44, land is pivotally connected to the lid compressor 38 by a pivot pin 46. The lid compressor 38 has side walls 48 extending perpendicular thereto, and the side walls 48 have a pin connection 50 secured thereto. A turnbuckle 52 is attached to the bracket 28 at one end thereof and has a tension spring 54 connected to the front end thereof. The other end of the tension spring 54 is secured to the pin 50. The operation of the fulcrum 42 and the tension spring 54 is to force the rear end of the compressor assembly down ahead of the forward end thereof onto cementing material 55 which is disposed within the interior of the reservoir 12. This operation will in effect force the cement material toward the front of the reservoir assembly and into a front orifice 56 provided in the bottom portion of the front wall 20 of the reservoir assembly.

The parallel utility arms 14 are connected to the front of the reservoir side walls 18 by means of a pin connection 60 about which the utility arms are adapted to pivot. A leaf spring 62 is attached to the bottom of the reservoir 12 and under the back of the utility arms 14. The leaf spring is mounted on a bracket 122. The function of the leaf spring 62 is to force the utility arms down into a substantially parallel arrangement with the reservoir assembly.

A tape roll spindle 63 is mounted between the front ends of the utility arms 14 and is adapted to carry a tape spool 65 on which a roll of taping material 67 is disposed.

The knife assembly of the present invention includes a knife blade attached to a knife bracket, which is spring biased to urge the knife into a downward arc, whereby the knife may be used to sever a strip of tape positioned under the knife blade. Specifically, the knife assembly comprises a knife bracket 64 which is pivotally mounted on the utility arms 14 by pivot pins 66 which are adapted to thread into a threaded bore 68 in the knife bracket. A projecting square nipple 70 is attached to the front of the knife bracket 64 and is adapted to carry a square shank 72, affixed to a knife blade, therein. The shank 72 is adjustable within the square nipple 70 in the front of the bracket, since the shank is secured to the bracket by means of a securing screw 74 which bears on the shank 72. The top of the knife bracket 64 is flat and ends in a downward curving arc 82. The arc 82 has ear projections 84 on each side thereof, which ear projections are adapted to guide the strip of tape threaded over the tape idler 86 which is rotatably mounted on the inside of the utility arms 14 by rotatable pin means 88. The knife blade 90 is mounted on the front of the knife shank 72 and has a flat shoulder projection 92 thereon, which shoulder is adapted to catch behind a knife trip 94 secured to the utility arms 14. A trip retaining bracket 96 is secured to the inside of the arms 14 and has a fiat shoulder 98 in the upper region thereof for retaining the knife trip when the trip has been moved to a position to release the knife blade, and knife bracket. The knife trip is spring tensioned by a tension spring 100 secured to rings 102 on the bottom side of the utility arms 14 and rings 104 which are secured to the bottom of the knife trip 94 by means of a spindle 106. A wire tensioning member 108 is connected to a knife tensioning cable 110 by a loop 112 on the knife tensioning cable, which encircles the back portion of the wire tensioning member 108, which has a lateral portion 114 projecting laterally across the bottom of the reservoir 12. The knife tensioning cable 110 passes through a cable guide 116 mounted on the bottom of the reservoir 12, and through an eye screw 118, and a recess 120 in the bottom bracket 122 mounted on the bottom of the reservoir 12. The rear of the knife trigger cable 110 is curled into a grasping loop 124 to facilitate the operation of releasing the knife trigger, or trip 94.

The knife bracket 64 is secured to the bottom of the reservoir 12 by pivotable bracket arms 12.6 and 128. The bracket arms 128 are pivotally secured to a mounting bracket 130, mounted on the bottom of the reservoir 12, by a rivet 132, and is pivotally secured to the bracket arm 126 by a spindle 134 which passes through an aperture provided therefor in the bracket arms 126 and 128. The bracket arms 126 are pivotally secured to the bottom of the knife bracket 64 by a bolt which passes through a threaded aperture 136 provided in projecting ears 138 on the bottom side of the knife bracket 64.

An integral creasing tool 140 is removably secured to the front of the utility arms 14 by inserting the rearward flanks of the integral creasing tool 140 under creasing tool leaf spirngs 142 provided in the front of the utility arms 14. The side arms of the integral creasing tool 140 are provided with a series of arcuate recesses 144 in the bottom of the arms, which are adapted to fit over the spindle 64, which retains the tape spool 66. When the integral creasing tool is so affixed to the taping machine the creasing tool leaf springs 142 will bias the integral creasing tool down onto the spindle 64 in the position shown in FIG- URE 14. A disk-type blade 148 is rotatably mounted on the downwardly curved front of the integral creasing tool, and the disk-type blade serves to crease the tape into corners, when a corner seam is being taped.

The utility arms 14 carries a tape guide 150, which is disposed in the front region of the utility arms 14. The tape guide 150 has guide projections 152 in the front thereof, which tape guides are adapted to guide a strip of tape in a manner parallel to the longitudinal axis of the taping machine In settting up the machine for a taping operation a strip of tape 154 is peeled oif the top of the tape roll 67 and is threaded through the ear guides 84 on the knife bracket 64 and around the tape idler 86. From the tape idler 86 the tape is threaded over the spindle 134 connecting the arm brackets 126 and 128, and through the tape guide projections 152 on the tape guide arms 150. From that position the tape may be positioned on the surface to be taped and the taping operation may be commenced. In threading the strip of tape 154 over the tape idler 86 the utility arms of the taping machine must be pivoted to the inclined position shown in FIGURE 6 so that the tape 154 may be threaded over the tape idler 86 between the front wall of the reservoir 12. The tape guides 150 are pivotally mounted to the utility arms 14 by nut means 156 which are threaded over a projection on the tape guide arms, which pass through the utility arms 14. The nut means 156 may be rigidly secured to the tape guide arms 150 by soldering the nuts in position, or by peening the projections over the nut means.

In the operation of compressing taping cement which will be deposited on the tape from within the reservoir 12 a lid 158 is placed under the lid compressor 38. The lid 158 is provided with seal means, such as a foam rubher or plastic seal 160 on the bottom side thereof, which is bonded to the lid 158. The effect of the lid under the action of the lid compressor is to force the tape cement 55 to the front portion of the taping tool, where the cement may be emitted through the orifice 56 in the bottom of the front wall 20 when the utility arms 14 are inclined under the pressure of operation from their normal extended position. The inclination of the arms 14 is illustrated in FIGURE 6 wherein it is also shown that the tape idler 86 is moved outwardly from the orifice 56 to allow the taping cement to pass through the orifice and onto the strip of tape 154.

The bracket is secured to the bottom of the reservoir 12 by screws 162, and is secured to the sides 18 of the reservoir by screws 164, which are positioned through apertures in ears 166 on the bracket 130. The side walls 18 of the reservoir 12 project beyond the front wall 20 thereof to facilitate the tape guiding operation. A pair of eye-screws 168 are provided on the front wall, and the knife bracket 64 is tensioned by tension springs 69 which are secured to the eye-screws 168 and to the knife bracket 64 by threading the ends of the tension spring 69 through the eye-screws, and through an apertured downwardly projecting ear 71 on the knife bracket 64. The knife retractor chain 78 is secured to the knife retractor bracket 76 by a bolt 77. The knife trips 94 are welded to a wire 95 which is secured to the utility arms 14 at 97 to maintain the position of the knife trips during the operation thereof.

In operating the tape machine of this invention the compressor and support lever 30 may be rotated about its pivot point 32 carrying the lid compressor 36 with it to open the interior of the reservoir, so that tape cementing material may be loaded into the reservoir. When the reservoir 12 is loaded the lid 158 together with the seal may be placed on top of the cementing material. Then the compressor and support lever 30 together with the lid compressor 36 may be pivoted back onto the lid 158 so that the lid compressor will force the lid downwardly into the reservoir thereby compressing the cementing material placed therein. The compression support lever 30 and lid compressor 36 involves the bent lever theory. The pivot points 40 and 32 regulate the distance between the hinge point 40 and the bracket 28, and thereby force the lid compressor 36 to rise or fall in a desired angle. This is controlled by setting the fulcrum hinge points 44 and 46 on the bracket 28, and walls 48 of the lid compressor 36 respectively at a desired distance. The fulcrum 42 will force the lid compressor 36 down. The tension cable 54 that is attached between the turnbuckle 52, and therefore between the turnbuckle attachment to the bracket at 53, and between spring connection rod 50 between the walls 48 of the lid compressor 36. The tension spring 54 will therefore direct a constant pressure downwards. Since the spring connection rod 50 is located near the center of the lid compressor 36 where pressure is exerted downward by the lid compressor 36 under the fulcrum 42, this permits the operator to regulate the amount of adhesive supplied, by exerting pressure on the top of the compression support lever 30. The connecting tension spring 54 supplies uniform pressure which pressure is exerted by the lid compressor 36 on the lid 158. The degree of tensioning of the tension spring 54 may be adjusted by loosening or tightening the turnbuckle 54, and the degree of tensioning will depend greatly on the viscosity of the taping cement being used. The pressure exerted by the lid compressor 36 will be exerted predominantly in the heel of the reservoir to force the taping cement toward the orifice in the front bottom portion of the reservoir of the machine whereby the operator can control the exact amount of taping cement necessary for the surface that he is working on by light pressure with his thumb or hand under compression support lever 30. The pitch of the lid compressor assembly will decrease as the lid compressor descends into the cement reservoir, and upon reaching the floor of the reservoir the lid compressor, together with the lid compressed thereunder, and the floor of the reservoir will all lay parallel.

The lid 158 is preferably made of rigid type material, such as cast aluminum, and is made allowing a tolerance only enough to allow the lid to slip freely from the top of the bottom of the inside of the reservoir 12. The foam seal 160 is bonded to the under, and outer edge of the lid 158, and is used for the purpose of containing adhesive in the reservoir 12 under pressure.

The reservoir 12 holds cement or paste viscosity adhesive. The lid 158 is designed to cover the adhesive. In assembling the taping machine of this invention the bracket 28 is slipped into the groove 26 of the reservoir assembly. The reservoir is sealed tight and has only one outlet therein at the bottom front where the orifice 56 is provided; therefore, the cement or paste must pass through the orifice. When pressure is not applied to the utility arms 14 the arms will be biased to a static position illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5 by the leaf spring 22. The orifice 56 will be sealed closed when the utility arms are in such a position and the cement or paste adhesive will be sealed in the reservoir 12. In applying the tape to a surface such as wallboard, pressure is applied to the utility arms 14, and the utility arms are pivoted about the pivot point 60 where the arms are attached to the sides of the reservoir. This operaton will lift the tape idler 86 from the sealing position adjacent to the orifice 56 and the cementing material, or paste adhesive retained within the reservoir 12 will be permitted to fiow through the orifice and onto one face of the tape which is threaded over the tape idler 86.

In setting up the machine the tape spool 65 is threaded into the center of a spool of tape 67; and the tape spindle 63 is inserted through the center of the tape spool 65. When the tape spindle 63 is positioned on the ends of the utility arms 14 as is illustrated in FIGURE 1 the tape is then in position for threading, whereby the tape may be applied to a surface for taping, The threading of the tape is simple and may be executed without much waste of time. i

As the loose end of the tape is unrolled from the roll of tape in a sulficient amount for the operator to thread or insert the end of the tape through the void between the tape idler 86 and the adhesive orifice 56. This operation is performed while the utility arms 14 are in an inclined position such as is illustrated in FIGURE 6, whereby the tape idler 86 will be rotated away from its sealing relationship with the adhesive orifice 56. The tape end is then placed over the pivot spindle 134 connecting the bracket arms 126, and 128 and over the tape guide 156 and through the projecting ear guides 152 on the tape guide, which tape guide lies against. the bottom of the tape roll and parallel to the surface to be taped. The roll of tape is then in a position to roll and be pressed onto practically any surface at any angle with a minimum resistance.

When the lid compressor assembly 16, lid 158 and adhesive reservoir 12, and taping head assembly are all working in conjunction with one another the adhesive will flow through the orifice 56 freely onto the tape sur face as it passes over the tape idler 86. In the event that additional adhesive, or cement is needed, the operator of the machine may augment the tension already on the lid compressor assembly with a light pressure by his hand on the top of the compression support lever 30. In the operation of the taping machine of this invention it is preferred that the operators hand will be at this position while the operator is in the process of guiding the machine during the operation.

When the operator has nearly completed the seam that he is taping, the operator may put the knife or tape cutting blade in motion. To perform this operation the knife trigger cable 124 is pulled. This tensioning will stretch the trigger spring 166 to the extent that its tension will exceed the resistance of the knife trip 94 against the bottom shoulder 92 on the knife 90, which holds the knife in a noncutting position. When the knife trip 94 is so released from the shoulder 92 of the knife, the knife 90 will fly through an arc and sever the tape that is passing below it, and over the pivot spindle 134 as is illustrated in FIGURE 6. This operation occurs as follows: The energy stored in the tension spring 69 is released when the trigger cable 124 releases the knife trip 94. The tension spring 69 will serve to rotate the knife bracket 64, together with the projecting nipple 70, knife shank 72 and knife blade 90 about the pivotal connection 66 to the utility arms 14. This pivotal movement caused by the tension spring 69' will serve to move the knife blade in its designed arc whereby the knife blade will pass through the tape passing over the pivot pin 134, to thereby sever the tape completely. The tape cutting operation can be performed only while the machine is in a tape laying cycle, and this operation is normally performed when the taping machine is near the end of a seam. The reason for this is that when the pressure of the roller material is exerted on a surface to be taped, the utility arms 14 will be in an inclined or raised position as is illustrated in FIGURE 6. During this operation the linkage 78 on the knife retractor bracket 76 attached to the base of the knife bracket 64 will remain slack as is illustrated in FIGURE 6, to allow the knife to rotate freely in its cutting operation.

After having completed a scam the operator will remove the taping machine from the tape surface. When the machine is removed from the tape surface the leaf spring 62 will force the utility arms 14 in a downward direction thereby causing the tape idler 86 to seat into the adhesive orifice 56 thereby completely stopping the flow of the cement, or adhesive paste from the reservoir 12 and also locking the tape passing over the tape idler in position and preventing the tape from being disassembled from its operating position. When the leaf spring 62 forces the utility arms 14 into their normal nonoperative positon illustrated in FIGURE 4, the knife retracting chain 78 secured to the post 80 on the projecting shank 70 of the knife bracket 64 will exert a pulling force on the knife bracket. Since the knife bracket is limited in its moving relationship by the retracting chain 78, and knife retractor bracket 76; this operation will cause the knife to be pulled back into the locking position with the knife trip 4, which will have resumed its knife locking position once the knife trigger cable is released since the trigger spring 100 will bias the knife trigger into such locking position. Therefore it may be readily seen that this operation will lock the knife assembly in ready position to make a succeeding cut of a strip of tape passing beneath it.

The integral creasing tool may be slipped over the roll spindle 64 and under the leaf spring 142 on the front of the utility arms 14. The integral creasing tool 140 has notches 144 in the underside thereof which adapts it to fit over the roll spindle 63. These notches permit easy adjustment of the location of the integral creasing tool. Such adjustment is mandatory since as the machine is used the diameter of the roll of taping material positioned in the front portion of the utility arms 14 will be diminished. The leaf spring 142 permits the integral creasing tool 140 to float in its operation, thereby permitting the tape creasing action to continue regardless of the degree of angle of the machine, while the taping machine is running parallel to corners.

The integral creasing tool 140 is only snapped into position when it is to be used. While the integral creasing tool is on the taping machine it retains the roll spindle 63 and maintains it in its proper position.

While the integral creasing tool is off the taping machine, the leaf spring 142 will contain the roll spindle 63 and thereby maintain its position.

The tape as it is applied to the surface to be taped will be pressed thereagainst by the roll of tape contained on the spindle 63 on the utility arms 14, therefore, it is readily observable that the tape roll itself is used in the pressing action on the strip of tape to be applied. The roll of tape material 67 will dispense itself in direct proportion to the laying and pressing operation, as more tape is required. When each cutting operation is performed and the utility arms are allowed to assume their normal inoperative position the tape material itself will serve as a seal in the orifice 56 while the machine is lying idle. The tape cutting operation itself is performed only while the machine is in an operative position since the retracting chain 78 will prevent the operation of the cutting blade When the machine is in a non-operative position. The tape cutting knife will automatically retract itself into a locked and safe position when the machine is lifted from a taped surface.

The lid compressor assembly may be dismantled from the reservoir 12 by simply lifting the bracket 28 out of the groove 26 in the back end of the reservoir to thereby facilitate cleaning of the machine.

Those skilled in the art may realize other advantages of my machine within the scope and spirit of this invention.

As .for example this machine may be used for marking and decorative purposes as illustrated in FIGURE 15. By removing the knife assembly, and tape spool and installing a wheel 180 with a diameter and width acceptable to the job to be performed and fitting an endless belt 182 snug enough to roll freely over that wheel and around the tape idler 86 to form a continuous cycle this machine may be used for painting or marking such as for painting or marking a roadway or parking lot, whereby the machine would then become a stripping machine, or paint stripping machine. In such use the endless belt would have a smooth surface suitable for rolling over the wheel and idler on its inside and would have a nap on its other perimeter for paint laying purposes, similar to that found on commercial paint rollers. The utility arms could easily be adjusted so that the material being applied to the paint belt at the reservoir orifice could be minutely controlled. This machine could be used for painting flat surfaces such as wall and sealings. A variation in the wheel and belt sizes used would be within the scope of this invention.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a tape applying device, a reservoir for containing paste and the like, a tape roller pivotally mounted on said reservoir at the bottom front thereof, an orifice in said reservoir adjacent to said roller, said roller being adapted to close said orifice, arms mounted on one end of said reservoir, said arms having means thereon to rotatably support a roll of tape, said tape roller being pivotable away from said orifice to receive a strip of said tape between said roller and said reservoir and a tape guide mounted on said arms for guiding said tape, said roller being adapted to pivot toward said orifice to seal off the flow of paste and the like therethrough and being adapted to pivot away from said orifice to allow said paste to be deposited on a surface of said tape.

2. A dry wall tape cementing and applying device comprising; a reservoir having spaced parallel side walls connected by a front wall, a back wall arranged in spaced parallel relation to said front wall, and a bottom wall; a lid compressor afiixed to said back wall and having a spring loaded fulcrum sloping downward from said back wall 10 toward said front wall, said fulcrum being hingedly secured to said back wall and to said lid compressor, said fulcrum terminating in spaced relation to said front wall; a lid plate beneath said fulcrum and said lid compressor for squeezing movement within said reservoir toward said bottom wall; spaced parallel arms secured to said front wall; means on said arms supporting a roll of tape, said arms having a knife bracket connected thereto adjacent said front wall, a roller mounted on said arms and being adapted to receive a strip of tape thereover, and an orifice in said front wall adjacent to said roller, said arms being pivotally mounted on said reservoir side walls to open and close said orifice by arcuately moving said roller away from and toward said orifice.

3. In a dry wall taping machine, a reservoir, a roller adjacent to the front side of said reservoir, arms mounted on said reservoir supporting a roll of tape, said reservoir being adapted to contain paste, and having a paste outlet orifice near the bottom front thereof, said tape being adapted to pass over said paste outlet orifice, a guide under said roll of tape for guiding said tape, said guide being mounted to said arms, said roller being aifixed to said arms and said arms being tensioned to bias said roller against the orifice to close said opening, said tape being stripped over said roller whereby paste may be deposited thereon when said arms are pivoted to bring the roller away from the orifice opening.

4. In an apparatus for applying joint cement to wallboard seam tape comprising an elongated reservoir having an outlet end which the tape is adapted to be passed over; an orifice communicating with the reservoir, and a roller mounted on arms pivotally mounted on the reservoir at the outlet end thereof for closing the orifice, said roller being adapted to receive a strip of tape thereover in a manner whereby said tape is adapted to receive a supply of the joint cement as the tape is pulled outwardly therefrom, and structure at the other end of said arms engageable with said tape and mounted on said arms for creasing said tape longitudinally thereof as the same is passed over the roller and outwardly through said arms at the outlet end of the reservoir.

5. For use with wallboard, a device for simultaneously applying cement and tape to adjacent wallboards at the junction thereof comprising an elongated reservoir, means pivotally connected to said reservoir rotatably mounting a tape supply roll, said means having a tape idler mounted thereon adjacent to the front end of said reservoir, a strip of tape extending from said supply roll, a first face of said tape engaging with said tape idler, an orifice in the bottom of said reservoir for dispensing cement onto said tape over a second face of said tape, and a narrow corner roller mounted on said reservoir proximate said tape supply roll in alignment with the center line of said tape, and means for engaging said corner roller with said tape, a reciprocably mounted cutting blade on said first means, said blade extending and movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first face of said tape, and means for engaging said tape with said blade.

6. In an apparatus for applying joint cement to wallboard seam tape, the combination comprising, a reservoir adapted to contain joint cement and having a back wall, a front wall and parallel side walls, a lid compressor connected to said back wall by a bracket, a fulcrum connected to said bracket and to said lid compressor, spring tensioning means connected to said bracket and to said lid compressor, the combination of said fulcrum and said spring tensioning means being adapted to bias the lid compressor toward the bottom of the reservoir, a lid having sealing means thereon disposed within said reservoir and underneath the lid compressor, said lid being adapted to compress joint cement within the reservoir when said joint cement is placed in the reservoir, said front wall having an orifice in the bottom region thereof for emitting joint cement therefrom, parallel arms pivotally connected to the side walls of the reservoir and extending beyond the front wall thereof, a tape idler connected to the parallel arms and being disposed adjacent to said orifice in the front wall for sealing the flow of joint cement from the orifice, spring tensioning means on said side walls adapted to bias said parallel arms to a position substantially parallel with the reservoir body whereby said tape idler will seat against said orifice to seal the orifice closed, said arms being adapted to pivot against said biasing means to lift the tape idler away from the orifice and allow joint cement to flow from said orifice.

7. The combination of claim 6 including means on said parallel arms for rotatably mounting a roll of tape, and a knife bracket pivotally connected to said parallel arms and spring tensioning means connecting said knife bracket to said reservoir, said spring tension means serving to rotate said knife bracket about the pivotal connection thereof, a knife mounted on said knife bracket, a trip means mounted on the arms adapted to retain the knife in a raised inoperative position, and means for releasing said trip means from said knife to allow said knife and bracket to pivot about said pivotal connection in a cutting operation.

8. The combination of claim 7 including guide means for guiding a strip of tape from said roll of tape outwardly from said apparatus parallel to said arms, said strip of tape from said roll of tape being threaded between said tape idler and said reservoir and over said guide means, one face of said strip of tape being adapted to receive tape cement emitting from said orifice, and said guide means serving to hold said strip of tape in the path of the arc of said knife whereby said strip of tape is severed when said knife is allowed to pivot in a cutting operation.

9. In a machine for applying tape, a reservoir for retaining cementing material to the tape to be applied, substantially parallel arms pivotally connected to one end of said reservoir, cutting means on said arms, said cutting means being biased toward a tape severing position by a biasing means connected to said cutting means and to said reservoir, means normally in retaining position for releasably retaining said cutting means in a non-severing position, and means for tripping said releasably retaining means from said retaining position to allow said cutting means to assume said severing position, and means on said reservoir for automatically retracting said cutting means back into said non-severing position.

10. The machine of claim 9 wherein a biasing means is connected to said releasably retaining means and to said arms for biasing said releasably retaining means into said normally retaining position.

11. In a machine for applying tape, a reservoir having an orifice in the front thereof for applying joint cement to tape, arms pivotally mounted on said reservoir, said arms having means thereon for guiding a strip of tape to which said joint cement is to be applied adjacent to said orifice and for sealing said orifice, a roll of tape mounted on the free end of said arms and means on said arms for guiding a strip of said tape under said roll of tape whereby said strip of tape may be pressed by said roll of tape when said tape is applied.

12. The machine of claim 9 wherein said retracting means includes brackets attached to said reservoir, and connecting means on said brackets connected to said cutting means for holding said cutting means in said nonsevering position, means biasing said arms to a position wherein said connecting means are operable to retain said cutting means in said non-severing position, said arms being pivotable from said biased position wherein said reacting means are inoperable to retain said cutting means in said non-severing position.

13. In a machine for applying material to a surface, a reservoir for retaining a body of viscous material, an orifice in said reservoir, arms pivotally mounted on said reservoir, pressure applying roll-like means mounted on the free end of said arms, an idler mounted on said arms adjacent to said orifice, and tape-like means mounted on said roll-like means and over said idler, extending from said roll-like means, over said idler, and back over said roll-like means, said idler being adapted to seal against said orifice when said arms are in a normal position, and means on said reservoir biasing said arms into said normal position, said arms being pivotable against said biasing means to lift said tape-like means and said idler from said orifice to open said orifice whereby viscous material placed in said reservoir will be allowed to flow through said orifice onto said tape-like means for application to a surface as the tape-like means passes back over said roll-like means.

14. The machine of claim 13 wherein said roll like means comprises a roll of wallboard tape, said tape-like means comprising the wallboard tape of the roll.

15. The machine of claim 13 wherein said roll-like means comprises a roller, said tape-like means comprising an endless belt engaged over said roller and said idler, the viscous material being paint-like in nature for application in strip form by said continuous belt.

16. In a tape applying device, a reservoir for containing paste or the like, a tape roller pivotally mounted on said reservoir at the bottom front thereof, an orifice in said reservoir adjacent to said roller, said roller being adapted to close said orifice, arms mounted on said reservoirand projecting outwardly beyond the front thereof, said arms having means thereon to rotatably support a roll of tape the tape from which will extend about said tape roller across said orifice, said tape roller being pivotable away from said orifice to receive the tape between said tape roller and said reservoir orifice, said roller being adapted to pivot toward said orifice to seal off the flow of paste or the like therethrough and being adapted to pivot away from said orifice to allow said paste or the like to be deposited on a surface of the tape.

17. In a machine for applying tape, a reservoir having an orifice defined in the front thereof for applying joint cement to tape, arm means mounted on said reservoir and projecting forwardly beyond the front thereof, said arms being adapted to mount a roll of tape on the forward ends thereof, a guide mounted on the reservoir immediately adjacent the orifice and alignable with an arm mounted roll of tape for the reception of the tape therefrom and thereabout between the guide and the orifice and means on said arms for guiding the tape forwardly from the guide toward the forward ends of the arm means for pressure by a mounted roll of tape when the tape is to be applied to a surface.

18. The machine of claim 17 wherein said reservoir has an open top, a lid vertically slidable within said reservoir through said open top, and compression means exerting a constant downward pressure on said lid, said compression means including means for manually increasing the pressure on said lid.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,779,307 l/1957 Foresta et al. 118-413 2,815,142 12/1957 Ames 156--526 3,131,108 4/1964 Kennard 156575 DOUGLAS I. DRUMMOND, Primary Examiner. 

